The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) recently announced the seizure of a cloud computing account used by subsidiaries of the Cambodian-based HuiOne Group. This action coincided with fresh sanctions from the Treasury Department against individuals and entities associated with the Prince Group. The DoJ revealed that these subsidiaries were instrumental in facilitating the transfer of illicit funds from cryptocurrency scams and fraudulent activities, funneling these proceeds into legitimate financial systems.
Background on the HuiOne Group’s Activities
The seized cloud account hosted critical infrastructure for HuiOne subsidiaries, including HuiOne Guarantee, known for operating an illicit marketplace on Telegram. This platform was involved in transactions worth billions, providing a hub for crimeware tools, stolen personal data, and other illicit services between 2021 and 2025. The marketplace also engaged in money laundering services, web development for fraudulent sites, and even human trafficking schemes.
HuiOne Guarantee played a significant role by offering escrow services, facilitating the laundering of substantial funds through cryptocurrency. An analysis by Elliptic highlighted that merchants on the platform even sold tools like tear gas and electric batons, allegedly used by scam operators to control workers.
Impact and Continued Challenges
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva emphasized the importance of such seizures in combating fraud that affects numerous Americans. Despite HuiOne’s cessation of operations in May 2025, new marketplaces have emerged to replace its functions. Research by Flare indicates over 30 new platforms have appeared, each using proprietary messaging systems to bypass bans and continue operations.
This wave of enforcement in 2025 marked a significant attempt to tackle both financial and physical aspects of the criminal ecosystem. However, while it forced some adaptations within the network, the overall volume of illicit activities remains largely unaffected.
Treasury Actions and Future Outlook
In parallel, the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has labeled H-Pay Service PLC as a primary concern for money laundering, aiming to block HuiOne Group’s access to the U.S. financial system. FinCEN had already designated HuiOne as a primary money laundering concern in May 2025.
The Treasury has also imposed sanctions on the leadership of the Prince Group, furthering efforts to dismantle this transnational criminal organization. This move comes after Prince Group’s classification as a TCO, with its chairman, Chen Zhi, facing arrest and extradition.
Despite these measures, transnational criminal organizations, bolstered by entities like HuiOne Group, continue targeting Americans through sophisticated cyber schemes. The ongoing enforcement actions underscore the commitment to disrupt these networks and protect the financial integrity of the U.S. system.
